U.S. House Passes Hate Crimes Legislation

U.S. House Passes Hate Crimes Legislation

PRESS RELEASE – APRIL 29TH, 2009 Washington, DC – Today, the Stonewall Democrats applauded the passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act by the United States House of Representatives. The legislation passed the House of Representatives with a 249 to 175 vote. 231 Democrats voted in favor of the legislation with 17 voting against. 18 Republicans voted for the legislation with 158 voting against. “Stonewall Democrats thanks President Obama and the Democratic Leadership for their strong support which ultimately led to the passage of this legislation,” said Jon Hoadley, Executive Director of the Stonewall Democrats. “We now have a President who is willing to sign this crucial legislation into law and that is why we continue to build support for its passage in the United States Senate. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would close legal loopholes which treats violence targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community as less important that crimes committed on the basis of other factors. This legislation gives local law enforcement agencies the tools that they need to equally prosecute bias motivated crimes.” On Tuesday, the White House urged lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act. In a statement to lawmakers and the press, President Obama said “This week, the House of Representatives is expected to consider H.R. 1913, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009. I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance – legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association. I also urge the Senate to work with my Administration to finalize this bill and to take swift action.” With more than 120 local chapters the Stonewall Democrats is the national organization of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied Democrats. Stonewall Democrats works to elect pro-equality Democrats to public office and improve the Democratic Party on issues important to pro-equality Americans.


Log Cabin Republicans Applauds passage of H.R. 1913 on Hate Crimes Prevention


(Washington) – Log Cabin Republicans National Board Chairman Terry W. Hamilton issued the following statement on the passage of House Resolution 1913 – The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Enforcement Act.

“Log Cabin Republicans is encouraged by the passage of H.R. 1913 – it provides local and state law enforcement with the funding and tools necessary to fully prosecute crimes of the most heinous nature – those based out of hate,” comments Hamilton. “We are happy to join the National Sheriffs’ Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National District Attorneys Association, the Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches and other law enforcement and civil rights organizations in support of this legislation.”

Log Cabin Republicans spokesman Charles T. Moran further comments: “As Republicans, we are heartened to see that free speech, from whatever perspective, will be strengthened. This legislation specifically protects First Amendment rights, preserves and protects the rights of all Americans to express their own individual opinions, be it in the public square, in their private homes or their pulpits,” states Moran. “This is not hate-speech legislation – it is hate-crime legislation.”

H.R. 1913 provides federal funding and assistance from the Department of Justice for local and state law enforcement agencies, or where local authorities are unwilling or unable to act, by taking the lead in investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated, violent crimes resulting in death or serious bodily injury. The legislation also makes grants available to state and local communities to combat violent crimes committed by juveniles, train law enforcement officers or assist in state and local investigations and prosecutions of bias-motivated crimes.

A 2007 Hart Research poll shows large majorities of every major subgroup of the American electorate – including such traditionally conservative groups as Republican men and evangelical Christians – expressing support for strengthening hate crimes laws.

These eighteen Republican legislators voted in support of H.R. 1913, and the thousands of Log Cabin Republican members across the nation thank them for their support, and encourage the Senate to act swiftly to pass this legislation as well.

Judy Biggert of Illinois, Mary Bono-Mack of California, Joseph Cao of Louisiana, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Mike Castle of Delaware, Mike Coffman of Colorado, Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania, Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rodney Frelinghuysen of New Jersey, Jim Gerlach of Pennsylvania, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Leonard Lance of New Jersey, Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, Todd Platts of Pennsylvania, Dave Reichert of Washington, Illeana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, and Greg Walden of Oregon.
Log Cabin Republicans is the nation’s only organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom and equality for gay and lesbian Americans. Log Cabin has state and local chapters nationwide, a full-time office in Washington, D.C., a federal political action committee and state political action committees.

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